Chapter 18

Halle's phone had been switched off and when she switched it on she noticed Pace had already called her and then sent her a text since she didn't reply.

'I will be late by a few hours, he's not well'

"Oh shoot,"

She called Pace.

"WHY WAS YOUR PHONE SWITCHED OFF!"

Halle instinctively pulled away from her screaming. "Sorry, I didn't realize that I switched off my phone last night."

"You don't normally switch your phone off." Pace pointed out.

"Yeah . . ."

"From last night he's having fever, it's not reducing," Pace continued. "That's why I couldn't come early."

"Is he better now?"

"Waiting in the clinic." said Pace. "He's holding up."

"Take the day off," said Halle. "No worries."

"But—"

"It's fine, silly. Take care." said Halle. "I shouldn't see you here for the rest of the day."

Pace sighed. "Okay. Take care."

Halle cut the call.

"So she's not coming?"

Halle almost dropped her phone. She didn't notice Arien standing behind her. "Yes."

By the time she cut the call, three customers had come. Today is going to be a nightmare.

Good thing we baked the cupcakes beforehand! she thought.

"Shall I take your order, dear sir?"

"What are you doing?" Halle hissed.

Arien noted down the order and went to the counter. Halle followed him.

What is wrong with him?

"Pace can't come today," Arien concluded. "By the looks of you, you can't handle all the customers today."

"I can handle it."

"That's not what I meant." Arien sighed. "Look, I don't want you overworking yourself. I'll give a hand." He pointed at the stuff on the top of the counter. "I don't even know how to use any of these. I'll get the orders and take care of the payment section."

"What about work?"

"I'll call in sick today."

Halle stared at him.

"What?"

Halle pulled the drawer and took out a mask and a cap and handed it over to him. "Hide yourself."

Arien took it from her confused why she gave it to him. "What if someone sees you here? You might lose your job."

He smiled, wore them. "How do I look?"

Halle looked over from the coffee maker. "Weird as usual."

With only his eyes visible she couldn't make out his expression, he'd probably pouted.

Halle placed the cappuccino in a tray and took it to the customer while he was taking orders from the others. She couldn't help but smile. Was this what it feels like to be . . . She shook her head as she went back to the counter.

It's good till it lasts, no need to hold onto it.

"What are you thinking?"

Arien startled her from her thoughts. The whole place was busy and still she dared to zone out.

"Nothing, just tired."

"Would've shared it if Pace was here."

Her ears coloured up.

How did he . . . ?

"Mom asked me to call my sister . . ." Halle looked away. "We are not on good terms, so I said no. I was thinking if I'd made a mistake or not."

"You want to talk to her?"

"No!"

"That's expressive." Arien looked at the ever growing amount of customers. "Did you get any wishes from a genie?"

"What?" asked Halle incredulous.

"I still cannot believe you are getting these many customers." He made an expression of POOF! Something magical.

"Me neither."

"Why did Aunt Cass ask you to talk with her?"

Halle bit her lip. She did not want to talk about this with anybody. It was her problem to deal with. "I don't know."

"If it's important, then you might as well do it."

She looked at him.

"Sometimes it's better to do something and regret it and then not do something and regret it."

"Stop being philosophical." Halle shook her head.

"No really." Arien sighed. "I don't have time to explain it today. I'll definitely continue this conversation once Pace comes tomorrow."

"Sure," Halle smirked.

"But you know . . ." Arien hesitated.

Halle looked up.

"If it is something related to . . . your mom and she wants you to talk to your sis but you're on bad terms with her . . . then it is not about you and her but your mom and her, so you have every right to force her into whatever thing Aunt Cass wants."

Halle stared at him.

He looked away. "In case it was something serious and you didn't know what to do . . . if it wasn't then forget that I said anything."

He started cleaning the trays and the cups on the tables.

Halle continued her work, placed two cupcakes on the tray and took it to the customer, "Enjoy the cupcakes!"